Latest Articles
- Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Multifunctional Fungal Ergosterol
The roles of ergosterol in the regulation of membrane fluidity and structure, as well its role as a target for the activity of antifungals, have been known for decades. Two recent studies, however, demonstrated that ergosterol is an immunologically active lipid that induces pyroptosis and that virtually all steps of its biosynthetic process are potential drug targets.
- Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter Complex (MCUC) of Trypanosoma brucei Is a Hetero-oligomer That Contains Novel Subunits Essential for Ca2+ Uptake
Trypanosoma brucei causes human African trypanosomiasis and nagana in animals. The finding of a mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) conserved in this parasite was essential for the discovery of the gene encoding the pore subunit. Mitochondrial Ca2+ transport mediated by the MUC complex is critical in...
- Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyPhosphorylation and Proteasome Recognition of the mRNA-Binding Protein Cth2 Facilitates Yeast Adaptation to Iron Deficiency
Iron is a vital element for many metabolic pathways, including the synthesis of DNA and proteins, and the generation of energy via oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, living organisms have developed tightly controlled mechanisms to properly distribute iron, since imbalances lead to nutritional deficiencies, multiple diseases, and vulnerability against pathogens. ...
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyTreatment of Human Glioblastoma with a Live Attenuated Zika Virus Vaccine Candidate
Glioblastoma (GBM), the deadliest type of brain tumor, is currently incurable because of its high recurrence rate after traditional treatments, including surgery to remove the main part of the tumor and radiation and chemotherapy to target residual tumor cells. These treatments fail mainly due to the presence of a cell subpopulation called glioma stem cells (GSCs), which are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy and capable of self-...
- Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyEpigenetic Regulation Alters Biofilm Architecture and Composition in Multiple Clinical Isolates of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
Upper respiratory tract infections are the number one reason for a child to visit the emergency department, and otitis media (middle ear infection) ranks third overall. Biofilms contribute significantly to the chronic nature of bacterial respiratory tract infections, including otitis media, and make these diseases particularly difficult to treat. Several mucosa-associated human pathogens utilize a mechanism of rapid adaptation termed...
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGenome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genetic Link between Diarrhea-Associated Entamoeba histolytica Infection and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death for children globally, causing 760,000 deaths each year in children less than 5 years old. Amebic dysentery contributes significantly to this burden, especially in developing countries. The identification of host factors that control or enable enteric pathogens has the potential to transform our understanding of disease predisposition, outcomes, and treatments. Our discovery of the...
- Minireview | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Microbiome and Tuberculosis: Early Evidence for Cross Talk
Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient infectious disease of humans that has been extensively studied both clinically and experimentally. Although susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is clearly influenced by factors such as nutrition, immune status, and both mycobacterial and host genetics, the variable pathogenesis of TB in infected individuals remains...
- Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyInhibition of Rho Activity Increases Expression of SaeRS-Dependent Virulence Factor Genes in Staphylococcus aureus, Showing a Link between Transcription Termination, Antibiotic Action, and Virulence
The major human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is a widespread commensal bacterium but also the most common cause of nosocomial infections. It adapts to the different host niches through a complex gene regulatory network. We show here that the Rho transcription termination factor, which represses pervasive antisense transcription in various bacteria, including...
- Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceThe Genome of the Human Pathogen Candida albicans Is Shaped by Mutation and Cryptic Sexual Recombination
Mutations introduce variation into the genome upon which selection can act. Defining the nature of these changes is critical for determining species evolution, as well as for understanding the genetic changes driving important cellular processes. The heterozygous diploid fungus Candida albicans is both a frequent commensal organism and a prevalent opportunistic...
- Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceParallel Evolution of Genome Streamlining and Cellular Bioenergetics across the Marine Radiation of a Bacterial Phylum
Understanding long-term patterns of microbial evolution is critical to advancing our knowledge of past and present role microbial life in driving global biogeochemical cycles. Historically, it has been challenging to study the evolution of environmental microbes due to difficulties in obtaining genome sequences from lineages that could not be cultivated, but recent advances in metagenomics and single-cell genomics have begun to obviate...